Apple or Quince?

[veggiechicken]

For 30 years I've thought of this tree as the "yellow, perfumed apple" but could it be a Quince? I'm really puzzled about how to tell the difference. The only Quince's I've met before have had a downy skin but this one is smooth.
The leaves are huge and the fruits are large too - and falling from the tree now. It tastes like an apple and is crisp to bite. Slightly tart but very eatable.

[Mikey]

Tough call, first glance I'd say apple, but the irregular shaped fruit and the pear like tendancies of the bottom left image would lean me towards a quince/pear. Can't help you VC, but I'm sure someone might.

[FB.]

I would say apple.
Judging by the huge leaves I would be wondering if it's triploid and by the "cosmetically challenged" look of the fruit it's probably quite an old variety (or a seedling from one).

[FB.]

The bark is a bit smooth and uniform in colour for quince.
The leaves look a bit too serrated round the edges for quince.

[orangepippin]

I also think apple. The leaves don't look like quince leaves. Also if it tastes like an apple that would be pretty good evidence!

[veggiechicken]

Thank you gentlemen
The tree was probably planted about 1940 along with the others in this old orchard.
Any suggestions as to what variety it could be?

[dandalady]

my quinces look like your fruit but the leaves are definitely not serrated so I would go with apple

[Paulieb]

Thank you gentlemen
The tree was probably planted about 1940 along with the others in this old orchard.
Any suggestions as to what variety it could be?

As I recently bought 'The Apple Book' I though I'd take on the challenge of having a go at identifying this apple. Over 150 varieties in this book.

As I'm a complete novice when it comes to apple identification take my thoughts with a barrow load of salt!!

After a quick browse the closest I've come to a match are Norfolk Beauty, Lord Derby or Keswick Codlin, and for various reasons I can quite confidently discount each one.

Norfolk Beauty (cooking apple, spreading tree)
Lord Derby (cooking apple with a short stout stalk and medium leaves!)
Keswick Codlin (cooking apple with a short stout stalk and small leaves, picking time late August!)

Obviously without having any information for further checking, if it were my tree I'd probably assume it was a seedling.

**Remember this is my first ever identification!!!**

[zazen999]

Asian pear.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Paul for taking on the challenge I have The Apple Book too and looked at that first but couldn't identify this apple. I have an apple that has been identified as Keswick Codlin and its not this one!!
This one has a very strong aroma, just like a japonica quince, and that's what made me question what it was. I have one beside me, and keep sniffing it, to me, its how fruit should smell
I don't think its a seedling as it has been planted as part of the row - although there are so many missing trees now that the pattern is no longer easy to make out.

[zazen999]

*coughs

It's an Asian Pear.

[veggiechicken]

Coughs back
All the images I've seen show them as perfectly shaped - not all chunky and deformed like these. Also, have Asian pears been grown here for 70 years (30 years that I know of)?

[zazen999]

Coughs back
All the images I've seen show them as perfectly shaped - not all chunky and deformed like these. Also, have Asian pears been grown here for 70 years (30 years that I know of)?

I think it's an Asian Pear with disease. We have several at Ryton, without disease, and the leaves and shapes are very similar. And they smell fragrant, almost like a quince but not as strong, and are crisp, slightly sharp but very juicy when eaten. And are ripe right about now.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Zaz - very interesting I've never seen an Asian pear tree - only seen the fruit for sale. Wonder what disease would make them such odd shapes? They've been like this as long as I can remember!

[FB.]

Shouldn't Asian pears have non-serrated edges, less prominent veins and a smoother/glossier look to the leaves?